No back steering

ABSTRACT

Disclosed herein is a steering mechanism for an outboard motor having a swivel bracket mounted for vertical swinging movement about a horizontal tilt pin, and a marine propulsion unit mounted for pivotal movement on the swivel bracket, the mechanism including a slide support rod connected to pivot about an axis normal to the axis of the tilt pin and a slide lock assembly connected to the marine propulsion unit and mounted for movement axially of the support rod, the slide lock assembly releasably restraining movement of the marine propulsion unit relative to the support rod from steering forces originating in the marine propulsion unit. The slide lock assembly includes a pivot pin mounted for movement axially of the support rod, a pair of levers having apertures slightly larger than the support rod, which levers are biased in angularly disposed relation on the support rod to respectively provide unidirectional restraint in opposite directions to the movement of the pivot pin with respect to the support rod and a slide block connected to a steering control member and mounted to slide on the support rod to selectively release the levers in response to steering movements originating from the steering control member.

United States Patent lnventor William J. Shimanckas Waukegan, Ill. Appl.No. 825,716 Filed May 19,1969 Patented Mar. 16, 1971 Assignee OutboardMarine Corporation Waukegan, Ill.

N 0 BACK STEERING 11 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 115/18, 74/5 3 1 Int. Cl B63h 21/26 Field oi'Search ll5/l8,41;74/531; 114/170 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,207,117 9/1965Nolen PrimaryExarniner-Andrew H. Farrell AttorneyWheeler, Wheeler, House& Clemency ABSTRACT: Disclosed herein is a steering mechanism for anoutboard motor having a swivel bracket mounted for vertical swingingmovement about a horizontal tilt pin, and a marine propulsion unitmounted for pivotal movement on the swivel bracket, the mechanismincluding a slide support rod connected to pivot about an axis normal tothe axis of the tilt pin and a slide lock assembly connected to themarine propulsion unitiand mounted for movement axially of the supportrod, the slide lock assembly releasably restraining movement of themarine propulsion unit relative to the support rod from steering forcesoriginating in the marine propulsion unit. The slide lock assemblyincludes a pivot pin mounted for movement axially of the support rod, apair of levers having apertures slightly larger than the support rod,which levers are biased in angularly disposed relation on the supportrod to respectively provide unidirectional restraint in oppositedirections to the movement of the pivot pin with respect to the supportrod and a slide block connected to a steering control member and mountedto slide on the support rod to selectively release the levers inresponse to steering movements originating from the steering controlmember.

Patented March 16,1971 I I 3,570,442

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N BACK STEERING BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Marine propulsion units ofthe type which are dirigibly mounted on the transom of a boat andcontrolled by a steering cable connected to a steering control member ata remote point in the boat have a tendency to pivot in response toforces originating in the propulsion unit. Steering mechanisms of thetype shown in the irgens, U.S. Pat. No. 3,517,634, issued Jun. 30, 1970,have been designed to prevent movement of the propulsion unit from theseforces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The steering mechanism of this invention is aself-contained unit mounted directly on the horizontal tilt pin for themarine propulsion unit. This mechanism includes a slide lock assemblyhaving a pivot pin connected to the steering arm for the marinepropulsion unit and mounted for movement axially of a slide support rodconnected to pivot about an axis normal to the horizontal tilt pin.Theslide lock assembly is connected to the steering cable or push-pullcable provided in the boat.

Pivotal movements of the marine propulsion unit from forces originatingin the propulsion unit are minimized or restrained by a pair of levershaving apertures slightly larger than the diameter of the slide supportrod. Each of the levers is biased to an angularly disposed relation onthe support rod to respectively provide a unidirectional restraint inopposite directions against movement of the" pivot pin on the supportrod. The restraining action of the levers is released by the movement ofa slide block into engagement with one or the other of the levers. Whenthe motionof the slide block ceases, the levers are returned to anangular locking relation on the support rod to restrain further movementof the marine propulsion unit.

The support rod and slide lock assembly are connected to the marinepropulsion unit to afford tilting of the marine propulsion unit forservicing or to clear obstructions.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description when read in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a side view of an outboard motor showing the location of thesteering mechanism with respect to the marine propulsion unit;

FIG. 2 is a top view partly in section of the steering mechanism withthe slide lock assembly in the extreme righthand position on the supportrod;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation of st the steering mechanism shown mountedon the horizontal tilt pin for the marine propulsion unit; and

FIG. 4 is a view partially in section of the slide lock assembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The steering mechanism shown in FIG. 1 isconnected to a marine propulsion unit 12 of the type dirigibly mountedrearwardly of the transom 14 of a boat and to a steering actuatorlocated at a remote point in the boat by means of a pushpull or steeringcable 16. The marine propulsion unit 12 includes a steering arm 28 andis secured to a kingpin or steering bracket 15 pivotally mounted on aswivel bracket com nected to a clamp or stem bracket 22 by means of ahorizontal tilt pin 24. The steering arm 28 is releasably connected tothe horizontal tilt pin 24 by means of the steering mechanism 10 whichgenerally includes a slide lock assembly 26 and a slide support 30. Theslide lock assembly 26 is connected to the steering arm 28 for themarine propulsion unit 12 and is carried on the slide support rod 30which is connected to the horizontal tilt pin 2% by means of a radialarm 32.

More specifically, and referring to FIGS. 2 and l, the slide lockassembly 26 includes a slide block 34 having spaced nected to a socketconnector 35 provided on the steering cal cable 16 by means of a balltype connector 30 provided on a flange 42 on the slide block 34. A screw44 is provided in the socket connector 35 to releasably engage the ballconnector 40.

The slide lock assembly 26 includes means for connecting the steeringarm 28 to the slide support rod 30 in the form of a pivot pin 45 havingan enlarged section 46 positioned in the space between the sidewallflanges 36 and an aperture 48 in the enlarged section 46 to receive theslide support rod 30. The pivot pin 45 extends radially from the supportrod 36 and is received in an aperture 50 provided in the steering arm28. Means are provided to retain the pivot pin $5 in the aperture 50 inthe form of a snap ring 52 positioned in a groove 5 3 provided at theend of the pivot pin 45.

In order to restrain movement of the slide lock assembly 26 with respectto the slide support rod 30, means are provided for releasably engagingthe support rod 30. This means includestwo levers 55 and 57, one ofwhich is positioned on each side of the pivot pin 45 in the spacebetween the enlarged section 46 and the sidewall flanges 36. Apertures56 and 58 are provided in each of the levers 55 and 57, respectively, toreceive the support rod 30 and are slightly larger than the diameter ofthe support rod 30. The levers 55 and 57 are biased at an angle to aline drawn perpendicular to the axis of the support rod 30 by means of aspring 60 secured to the converging ends of the levers 55 and 57 witheach of the apertures 56 and 58 releasably engaging the support rod 30.Each of the levers 55 and 57, respectively, provides a unidirectionalrestraint to the movement of the pivot pin 45 on the slide support rod30. Movement of the enlarged section 46 of the pivot pin 45 intoengagement with either of the levers 55 and 57 will tend to increase theangular relation of the engaged lever with the support rod 3!)increasing the locking action of the aperture in that lever on thesupport rod 30. Accordingly, propulsion unit steering movements whichcould otherwise originate in the propulsion unit are prevented.

The levers 55 and 57 are released from locking engagement with thesupport rod 30 by means of a lost motion connection provided between theslide block 34 and the pivot pin 45. This can be seen in FIG. 2 wherethe slide lock assembly 26 is shown on the right end of support rod 30.When the slide lock assembly 26 is moved to the left by steeringmovements originating from a remote point in the boat, the rightsidewall flange 36 on the slide block 34 will initially engage the outerend of lever 57 moving the lever 57 toward a generally perpendicularrelation with respect to the axis of the support rod 30. As the lockingaction of the engaged lever is released from the support rod 30, thelever will be brought into engagement with the enlarged section 46 ofthe pivot pin 45. Further movement of the slide lock assembly 26 on thesupport rod 30 will pivot the steering arm 25 and kingpin 18 about thekingpin axis, thereby rotating the propulsion unit 12. Since the levers55 and 57 each provide only unidirectional locking action, lever 55 willnot have any effect on the movement of the slide lock assembly 26 to theleft-When the direction of motion of the slide lock assembly 26 isreversed, the locking action of the lever 55 is released by the movementof the slide block 34 into engagement with the lever 55 in the samemanner as described for the release of lever 57 from the support rod 30.

In order for the slide lock assembly 26 to follow the circular motion ofthe outer .end of the steering arm 28 when the propulsion unit 12 isrotated to steer the boat, means are provided to allow the support rod30 to pivot about an axis exthe axis of the tilt pin 24. As seen in FIG.2, as the slide lock assembly 26 is moved from the right end of thesupport rod 30 to the left end, the support rod 30 will pivot initiallyclockwise until the slide lock assembly 26 reaches the center of thesupport rod 30. Further movement of the assembly 26 will pivot thesupport rod 30 counterclockwise until the assembly 26 reaches the leftend of the support rod 30.

Means are provided for supporting the slide support rod 30 for movementwiththe propulsion unit 12 when the propulsion unit is pivotedvertically with respect to the horizontal tilt pin 24. Various means canbe employed for connecting the slide support rod 30 to the swivelbracket 20, the clamp bracket 22, or the tilt pin 24 to allow formovement of the slide support rod 30 with the propulsion unit 12. In thedrawing this is shown as the pivotal connection of the radial arm 32 tothe tilt pin 24. The radial arm 32 includes a hub 68 having an aperture70 to receive the horizontal tilt pin 24. The radial arm is retained onthe tilt pin 24 by a snapring 72 provided on the end of the tilt pin 24.Whenever the propulsion unit is tilted vertically about the horizontaltilt pin 24, the support rod 30 will be free to move with the propulsionunit 12 about the horizontal tilt pin.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the followingclaims.

Iclaim:

1. In an outboard motor, the combination of a clamp bracket, a swivelbracket, a tilt pin connecting said swivel bracket to said clamp bracketfor vertical swinging movement of said swivel bracket relative to saidclamp bracket, a propulsion unit mounted for pivotal movememnt on saidswivel bracket about an axis transverse to the axis of said tilt pin toafford steering movement of said propulsion unit, a steering armextending rigidly from said propulsion unit, and means for releasablyconnecting said steering arm to said horizontal tilt pin to releasablyrestrain steering movement.

2. An outboard motor according to claim 1 whrerein said releasableconnecting means includes a support rod connected to said tilt pin and aslide lock assembly connected to said steering arm and mounted formovement axially of said support rod.

3. An outboard motor according to claim 2 including means for connectingsaid support rod to said tilt pin for pivotal support rod movement aboutan axis extending radially from said tilt pin.

4. An outboard motor according to claim 2 wherein said slide lockassembly includes a pair of levers having apertures slightly larger thanthe diameter of said support rod, said levers being biased in angularlydisposed relation on said support rod to respectively provideunidirectional restraint in opposite directions to the movement of saidslide lock assembly with respect to said support rod.

5. An outboard motor according to claim 4 wherein said assembly includesa slide block adapted for connection to a remote actuator and mountedfor movement axially of said support rod to selectively release saidlevers in response to steering movements originated by the remoteactuator.

6. An outboard motor according to claim 1 wherein said connecting meansincludes a support rod connected to said tilt pin, a pivot pin mountedfor axial movement on said support rod and pivotally connected to saidsteering arm, a pair of levers having apertures slightly larger than thediameter of said support rod, said levers being biased in angularlydisposed relation on said support rod to respectively provideunidirectional restraint in opposite directions to the movement of saidpivot pin with respect to said support rod, and a slide block mountedfor movement axially of said support rod to selectively release saidlevers in response to steering actuated from a remote point and to movesaid pivot pin axially on said support rod to effect steering of saidpropulsion unit.

7. An outboard motor according to claim 6 including means for connectingsaid support rod to said tilt pin for pivotal support rod movement aboutan axis extending radially from said tiltspin.

A steering mechanism for a marine propulsion unit having a steering arm,which mechanism is adapted to be connected to a remote actuator and ismounted for pivotal movement on an axis transverse to a horizontal tiltpin, said mechanism including a support rod, means for supporting saidsupport rod for movement with the propulsion unit, means for connectingthe steering arm to said support rod for movement axially of saidsupport rod to effect steering of the propulsion unit, and means forreleasably restraining movement of said connecting means with respect tosaid support rod in response to steering movements originating from thepropulsion unit.

9. A steering mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said restrainingmeans includes a pair of levers having apertures slightly larger thanthe diameter of said support rod and including means for biasing saidlevers to angularly disposed positions on said support rod torespectively provide unidirectional restraint in opposite directions tothe movement of said connecting means with respect to said support rod.

10. A steering mechanism according to claim 8 wherein said supportingmeans includes a radially extending arm mounted for pivotal movementabout the axis of the tilt pin.

11. A steering mechanism according to claim 9 including a slide blockadapted for connection to the remote actuator and mounted for movementaxially of said support rod and having spaced flanges positioned toengage said levers for selectively releasing said levers in response tosteering movements originating from the remote actuator.

1. In an outboard motor, the combination of a clamp bracket, a swivelbracket, a tilt pin connecting said swivel bracket to said clamp bracketfor vertical swinging movement of said swivel bracket relative to saidclamp bracket, a propulsion unit mounted for pivotal movement on saidswivel bracket about an axis transverse to the axis of said tilt pin toafford steering movement of said propulsion unit, a steering armextending rigidly from said propulsion unit, and means for releasablyconnecting said steering arm to said horizontal tilt pin to releasablyrestrain steering movement.
 2. An outboard motor according to claim 1wherein said releasable connecting means includes a support rodconnected to said tilt pin and a slide lock assembly connected to saidsteering arm and mounted for movement axiaLly of said support rod.
 3. Anoutboard motor according to claim 2 including means for connecting saidsupport rod to said tilt pin for pivotal support rod movement about anaxis extending radially from said tilt pin.
 4. An outboard motoraccording to claim 2 wherein said slide lock assembly includes a pair oflevers having apertures slightly larger than the diameter of saidsupport rod, said levers being biased in angularly disposed relation onsaid support rod to respectively provide unidirectional restraint inopposite directions to the movement of said slide lock assembly withrespect to said support rod.
 5. An outboard motor according to claim 4wherein said assembly includes a slide block adapted for connection to aremote actuator and mounted for movement axially of said support rod toselectively release said levers in response to steering movementsoriginated by the remote actuator.
 6. An outboard motor according toclaim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a support rod connectedto said tilt pin, a pivot pin mounted for axial movement on said supportrod and pivotally connected to said steering arm, a pair of levershaving apertures slightly larger than the diameter of said support rod,said levers being biased in angularly disposed relation on said supportrod to respectively provide unidirectional restraint in oppositedirections to the movement of said pivot pin with respect to saidsupport rod, and a slide block mounted for movement axially of saidsupport rod to selectively release said levers in response to steeringactuated from a remote point and to move said pivot pin axially on saidsupport rod to effect steering of said propulsion unit.
 7. An outboardmotor according to claim 6 including means for connecting said supportrod to said tilt pin for pivotal support rod movement about an axisextending radially from said tilt pin.
 8. A steering mechanism for amarine propulsion unit having a steering arm, which mechanism is adaptedto be connected to a remote actuator and is mounted for pivotal movementon an axis transverse to a horizontal tilt pin, said mechanism includinga support rod, means for supporting said support rod for movement withthe propulsion unit, means for connecting the steering arm to saidsupport rod for movement axially of said support rod to effect steeringof the propulsion unit, and means for releasably restraining movement ofsaid connecting means with respect to said support rod in response tosteering movements originating from the propulsion unit.
 9. A steeringmechanism according to claim 8 wherein said restraining means includes apair of levers having apertures slightly larger than the diameter ofsaid support rod and including means for biasing said levers toangularly disposed positions on said support rod to respectively provideunidirectional restraint in opposite directions to the movement of saidconnecting means with respect to said support rod.
 10. A steeringmechanism according to claim 8 wherein said supporting means includes aradially extending arm mounted for pivotal movement about the axis ofthe tilt pin.
 11. A steering mechanism according to claim 9 including aslide block adapted for connection to the remote actuator and mountedfor movement axially of said support rod and having spaced flangespositioned to engage said levers for selectively releasing said leversin response to steering movements originating from the remote actuator.